Apparatus for sorting particulate articles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for sorting, including feeding, orienting and counting, particulate articles such as coins, shells, candy, pills and the like, wherein the articles are placed upon a rotating inner plane and centrifugally discharged through a peripheral gauging aperture defined at the edges of a rotating inner plane. The peripheral aperture is defined by a pair of top and bottom outer gauging rings rotated at speeds similar to or at variance with the rotating inner plane according to the character of the articles being counted. Also, the size of the gauging aperture may be varied by vertical adjustment of the top outer ring to accommodate centrifugal discharge articles of varying dimension. The discharged articles may be guided tangentially and single file past a conventional photo electric or similar counting device. The rotating inner plane may have a horizontal surface, alternately a concave, convex or contour profile.

[ 1 Mar. 27, 1973 154] APPARATUS FOR SORTING PARTICULATE ARTICLES [75]Inventors: Kurt 11. Hoppmann; Horst A.

Schober, both of Falls Church, Va.

[73] Assignee: Hoppmann field, Va.

[22] Filed: June 12, 1972 [21] Appl. N0.: 262,162

Corporation, Spring- Related U.S. Application Data [63]Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 135,225, April 19,

1971, Pat. NO. 3,669,260.

[52] U.S. C1. ..209/73, 209/86, 221/7, 221/169, 233/47 R [51] Int. Cl..B07c 5/00 [58] Field of Search ..221/7, 169; 209/60, 199, 74, 209/73,86; 198/33 AA; 233/46, 47 R, 27, 20

2,527,174 10/1950 Bowman ..209/86X Primary Examiner-Allen N. KnowlesAssistant Examiner-Gene A. Church AttorneyDavid 1-1. Semmes [57]ABSTRACT Apparatus for sorting, including feeding, orienting andcounting, particulate articles such as coins, shells, candy, pills andthe like, wherein the articles are placed upon a rotating inner planeand centrifugally discharged through a peripheral gauging aperturedefined at the edges of a rotating inner plane. The peripheral apertureis defined by a pair of top and bottom outer gauging rings rotated atspeeds similar to or at variance with the rotating inner plane accordingto the character of the articles being counted. Also, the size of thegauging aperture may be varied by vertical adjustment of the top outerring to accommodate centrifugal discharge articles of varying dimension.The

discharged articles may be guided tangentially and single file past aconventional photo electric or similar counting device. The rotatinginner plane may have a horizontal surface, alternately a concave, convexor contour profile.

13 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEDumHm SHEET 2 [1F 5 PATENTEDHAR 271973 SHEET 30F 5 APPARATUS FOR SORTING PARTICULATE ARTICLES CROSSREFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS A continuation-in-part of applicantsearlier filed application, Ser. No. 135,225, filed Apr. I9, 1971, nowU.S. Pat. No. 3,669,260, and entitled dMETHOD OF SORTING PARTICULATEARTICLES.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Increasingattention is being given to apparatus for sorting particulate mattersuch as coins, shells, pills, and the like. Recent inventors haveevolved a plurality of rotating devices which centrifugally dischargearticles to be counted from the edges of the rotating plane.Traditionally, centrifugally discharge d articles are forced through astationary exit aperture and thence counted, as they are tangentiallyejected. A primary shortcoming of utilizing stationary exit apertures isthe tendency of such devices to become jammed with the article,necessitating shutdown for clearing of the aperture in order to continuecounting.

2. Description of the Prior Art SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According toapplicantsAutheville suggests inclining the rotating discs so as toaffect a measure of control. However, his discharge gates are stationaryand, it is submitted, subject to jamming.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional viewofa proposed form of the apparatus showing a feeding hopper mounted upona rotating inner disc, adjacent with the outer rotating top gauging ringand outer rotating lower support ring;

FIG. 2 is a top plan thereof;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modified gauging ringwhich has curvate apertures in the lower surface of its vertical wall,configured as the cross-section of the articles being counter;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective, slightly enlarged, showing thefeeding of round articles such as pills through the curvate apertures inthe gauging ring;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section of a modified method ofcounting, wherein the top gauging ring and lower support ring discs arerotated simultaneously by means of a single peripheral belt;

FIG. 6 is a top plan thereof;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary transverse section of a modified and concaverotating inner plate; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary transverse section of a modified and convexrotating inner plate. Y

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1 there is illustrateda device for counting particulate articles according to the presentmethod and including a baseplate 10 and an intermediate plate 12 securedto each other by a plurality of threaded bolts 14, 16, 18 and 20 havingsuitable washer'and nut elements. The entire assembly may be angled ortilted with respect to the vertical as an assistance in sorting byadjustment of baseplate 10 with respect to these threaded bolts.

Inner rotating discharge plate 44 is mounted upon hub 45 which is seatedin bearings 62, 64, 66, 68 and driven rotatably by means of belt 50. Anouter support ring 36 is supported upon rotating cradle 38, which isdriven by means of belt 40 at a speed identical to the rate of rotationof discharge plate 44 or variant therewith. Gauging ring 34 is supportedabove outer discharge ring 36 by means of a plurality of drive pulleys24 including groove 32, engaging the edge 33 of gauging ring 34. Pulley24 is driven by the belt 30 and may be supported upon shaft 28 havingbearings 28 and 70. The belt 30 may be used to drive pulley 24 at speedsconsistent with belt 40 and 50 or at variance therewith, according tothe gravitational characteristics or configuration of the articles beingcounted. As illustrated in FIG. 1, there is a stationary outer baffle72, supported upon base 74, resting upon plate 12, and extendingvertically so as to overlap aperture 42 defined between top gauging ring34 and support or discharge plate 36.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, plate 72 includes at one side tangential slot82 defined by outer edge 86 and rounded inner shoulder 84. As will beapparent, articles centrifugally discharged through aperture 42 arethrown through slot 82 which may be horizontal, alternatively inclineddownwardly or upwardly (as illustrated in phantom in FIG. 5) adjacent aphotocell or similar counting device 83-85.

In FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated variant gauging ring havingcurvate apertures 88 in the lower face of the inner wall of the gaugingring. Round'articles, such as pills 9 0 are admitted through theapertures 88, only as they are aligned in the desired vertical position,

which may be the position selected for counting by ture only when theyare on their sides conversely, arti- I cle 92 is not centrifugallydischarged, since it is vertically upright. As will be apparent, theheight off the gauging ring with respect to the outer support ring inall modifications of the invention may be varied by adjustment of plate12 upon thread bolts 14, 16, 18 and 20.

In FIG. 7 a modified inner plate 104 with a concave profile isillustrated and in FIG. 8 there is illustrated a further modificationwherein inner plate 106 has a convex profile.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles comprising:

A. a rotating inner plate, supported in a stationary base; I

B. a rotating circular support ring supported apart from said plate, asan extension of the periphery of said inner plate;

C. a vertically adjustable rotating circular top gauging ring superposedwith respect to said support ring at the periphery of said inner plate,so as to define an exit aperture equivalent in height to the dimensionof the articles being sorted; and

D. drive means independently engaging said inner plate, said supportring and said top guaging ring, so as to rotate said inner plate at avelocity sufficient to discharge articles from said plate, and throughsaid exit aperture.

2. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, includingE. a tangential guide leading from said exit aperture, so as to guideaway articles discharged through said aperture.

3. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, said drivemeans including means varying the speed of rotation of said top gaugingring with respect to said lower support ring.

4. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 3, including astationary outer baffle extending vertically across said exit apertureintermediate, except in the area of said tangential guide.

5; Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim4, said topgauging ring having an inner wall extending downwardly across said exitaperture, said wall including a plurality of apertures configured toregister with articles being discharged there-through.

6. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, including acircular belt engaging the outer periphery of said top gauging ring andsaid bottom support ring ana laterally spaced pulley so as to extendover and above said aperture, except in the area of said tangentialguide.

7. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, said drivemeans including means independently varying the speed of rotation ofsaid inner plate, said top gauging ring and said bottom support ring.

8. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 4, includingmeans tilting said apparatus with respect to vertical as an assistancein sorting.

9. Apparatus'for sorting particulate articles as in claim 8, includingan article feedinghopper secured to said inner plate, so as to feedarticles centrally of said plate.

10. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 9,-saidhopper being vertically adjustable with respect to said inner plate.

11. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 1, whereinsaid outer support ring and said inner plate are aligned horizontially.

12. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 11, saidinner plate having a concave profile.

13. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 11, saidrotating inner plate having a convex profile and its outer peripherybeing aligned horizontally with said support ring.

1. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles comprising: A. a rotatinginner plate, supported in a stationary base; B. a rotating circularsupport ring supported apart from said plate, as an extension of theperiphery of said inner plate; C. a vertically adjustable rotatingcircular top gauging ring superposed with respect to said support ringat the periphery of said inner plate, so as to define an exit apertureequivalent in height to the dimension of the articles being sorted; andD. drivE means independently engaging said inner plate, said supportring and said top guaging ring, so as to rotate said inner plate at avelocity sufficient to discharge articles from said plate, and throughsaid exit aperture.
 2. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as inclaim 1, including E. a tangential guide leading from said exitaperture, so as to guide away articles discharged through said aperture.3. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 2, said drivemeans including means varying the speed of rotation of said top gaugingring with respect to said lower support ring.
 4. Apparatus for sortingparticulate articles as in claim 3, including a stationary outer baffleextending vertically across said exit aperture intermediate, except inthe area of said tangential guide.
 5. Apparatus for sorting particulatearticles as in claim 4, said top gauging ring having an inner wallextending downwardly across said exit aperture, said wall including aplurality of apertures configured to register with articles beingdischarged there-through.
 6. Apparatus for sorting particulate articlesas in claim 2, including a circular belt engaging the outer periphery ofsaid top gauging ring and said bottom support ring ana laterally spacedpulley so as to extend over and above said aperture, except in the areaof said tangential guide.
 7. Apparatus for sorting particulate articlesas in claim 1, said drive means including means independently varyingthe speed of rotation of said inner plate, said top gauging ring andsaid bottom support ring.
 8. Apparatus for sorting particulate articlesas in claim 4, including means tilting said apparatus with respect tovertical as an assistance in sorting.
 9. Apparatus for sortingparticulate articles as in claim 8, including an article feeding hoppersecured to said inner plate, so as to feed articles centrally of saidplate.
 10. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 9,said hopper being vertically adjustable with respect to said innerplate.
 11. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as in claim 1,wherein said outer support ring and said inner plate are alignedhorizontially.
 12. Apparatus for sorting particulate articles as inclaim 11, said inner plate having a concave profile.
 13. Apparatus forsorting particulate articles as in claim 11, said rotating inner platehaving a convex profile and its outer periphery being alignedhorizontally with said support ring.